Before the plenary session, Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin and President and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank German Gref, toured an exhibition dedicated to the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
At the GigaChat and Smart Devices display stand, the President was given a presentation of the capabilities of Sber’s AI-enabled products such as a smart ring that reads biometric data and interprets them using GigaChat. At the stand GigaChat: Results of the Year with the President, specialists explained that AI was being used to process people’s appeals received by the Direct Line for the first time. The neural network is now helping the combined editorial team to process the incoming array of requests ten times faster.
The Autonomous Tractor-Trailers display showcases the results of testing unmanned tractor-trailers on the M-11 Neva motorway from Moscow to St Petersburg as part of the Unmanned Logistics Corridors federal project. The 3D Modeling and Kandinsky stand demonstrates the capabilities of generative AI for creating images and videos, as well as a 3D modeling project that uses AI to make parts for industrial equipment.
At the T-Bank display, AI in Education, the President was given information about corporate educational programmes for schoolchildren, students, and IT specialists.
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Speech at the AI Journey international conference
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
I am very pleased to welcome you to Artificial Intelligence Journey. This conference has already become one of the most high-profile and much-anticipated international events in the science and technology domain.
My colleagues just told me that millions of citizens of our country as well as foreigners, from all over the world, are participating in the conference online and are closely following the discussions. About half of the audience are young people, new researchers and software developers who are directly involved in the creation, design, and use of products and services that are ahead of our time.
We also have in this room today the winners of the Russian School Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence. My colleagues just told me that they are taking part in the plenary session. I sincerely congratulate them on this significant achievement. Let’s honour them. I am sure that being at such a high-level conference will be extremely useful for our future joint work in education and for your career trajectory.
Sberbank has certainly played a major role in making Russia a significant platform for discussing advanced technologies, and I would like to thank Sberbank, as well as the Alliance in the sphere of AI, an industry organisation created five years ago by the largest domestic companies here at this conference.
I would like to congratulate you all on this meaningful milestone. I would also like to thank you for your work, for your perseverance in promoting the ideas of progress, for your aspiration to make the most daring and fantastic dreams come true, and to bring them to everyday products and services, to projects that might seem simple, but are game-changers nonetheless. Due to these successful projects, Russia is now at the forefront of the momentous changes taking place around the world.
They are gaining momentum and strength, which means that we – I am primarily addressing the Russian audience – we need to gain traction as well and come up with truly innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
I would like to note that in just a year, artificial intelligence technologies have transformed entire industries beyond recognition, even the so-called creative industries, where human sense of harmony and beauty had seemed absolutely irreplaceable. To be honest, I thought this was impossible, but these boundaries are being erased now.
Generative models can create high-quality music in various genres, simultaneously translate speech into dozens of languages in real time, produce videos that are hardly distinguishable from real footage, create video games using text or pictures, as well as 3D models, digital twins of complex systems. In fact, this means that a revolution is happening in engineering, in the design and construction of fundamentally new components and entire devices.
Artificial intelligence now reads and analyses even hard-to-read images and videos, regardless of weather conditions or other interferences. This opens up entirely different opportunities for robotics, for the creation of unmanned vehicles for land, air and water.
Generative AI tools predict natural disasters quite accurately. They can analyse tables and diagrams and solve the most complex mathematical and physics problems in just a few short steps.
The fact that the domestic companies are quickly implementing these innovations and achievements in their work and are moving in lockstep with time is vitally important. For example, Sber released a GigaChat MAX service based on innovative solutions, and Yandex presented the fourth generation of Yandex Chat. T-Bank, MTS, and VK have made great strides in developing their neural models. As you are aware, the restrictions imposed on Russia and the Russian economy push us to look for new solutions, and you are effectively finding them.
What makes the leap in AI algorithms fundamentally distinct? Our colleagues have just briefed me about it. These algorithms are now capable of reasoning and use logic when they expound their thoughts, meaning that the generative artificial intelligence has significantly improved its cognitive, thinking abilities.
In this regard, mathematician Rene Descartes once famously said, “I think, therefore I am”. This dictum has become a symbol of the scientific revolution of the Age of Enlightenment. That was back in the 16th and the 17th centuries. Up until now, reasoning, as well as memory, speech, and empathy were considered foundational characteristics of homo sapiens, a human being.
At the same time, a growing number of experts and researchers are saying that progress in the reasoning ability will, in the foreseeable future, lead to the emergence of what is known as strong artificial intelligence, i.e. technologies that will surpass humans in key activities. The processes which now take years to accomplish, will be completed, and in some areas are already completed, not in days, but in hours, minutes and even seconds.
For example, the scale and complexity of research is growing in all areas of science ranging from genetics to creating innovative materials. Artificial intelligence is capable of processing huge amounts of data, modeling the most daring experiments, and finding new, as researchers say, state space search-based solutions which can shorten the path from hypothesis to scientific discovery by tens, and even hundreds of times.
Clearly, the availability of our own research potential in the field of the new generation of artificial intelligence is one of the key prerequisites for scientific, technological and, importantly, our country’s worldview sovereignty.
I brought up the worldview sovereignty, because the algorithms, the underlying AI principles are being laid down, at least for the time being, mostly by humans who are guided by certain values, language, images, culture, history, and traditions, as well as national specifics and interests. To be able to determine the future of Russia, we must create such technologies ourselves and, of course, do so in collaboration with those who are willing to work.
I would add in this regard that our activities in the field of artificial intelligence should rely on a solid foundation created by outstanding Russian philosophers, secular and religious thinkers, historians, linguists, and recognised authorities in the field of humanitarian and cultural knowledge. Of course, that includes scholars, mathematicians, specialists in the field of cybernetics and IT. I will name just some of them, whom you, as specialists, certainly know and rely on their works and achievements of the past years. These are Andrei Kolmogorov, Alexei Lyapunov, and Alexander Galushkin.
It is our direct duty to build on their legacy, and to act as equal participants in the global race to create a strong artificial intelligence.
The Russian scientists are working on developing advanced solutions. Our cultural figures are well known and honoured by wide audiences. The names of the researchers are heard less often, but I will give you some names: Yevgeny Burnayev, Alexander Gasnikov, and Ivan Oseledets. Our key AI research centres are operating successfully. We encourage scientists from all over the world to join us in our research activities.
In this regard, we propose to hold an international foresight in Russia, a kind of strategic session to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, and to put our heads together regarding the future of this powerful technology. This will allow us to promptly respond to emerging challenges and risks, to use outside-the-box solutions and opportunities, and to outline new areas for scientific breakthroughs and partnerships.
Colleagues,
The AI technology is called upon to become the critical resource for achieving national development goals, to strengthen the country’s defence capability, to ensure high-quality development of the economy and social sectors, public administration, and growth of innovations. In order to successfully meet these challenges, Russia must become a world leader not only in matters of creation, but also in the scale of using artificial intelligence in all spheres of our life without exception.
I think the state will do the right thing if it shows an example of bold and advanced approaches. Of course, we must begin with ourselves. Our colleagues have just shared how they are helping me prepare for the Direct Line and the year-end news conference on December 19. A large language model developed by Sber is now being used for the first time ever to receive, process and analyse calls, millions of them every year. This tool gets the results that cause respect and exceed all expectations.
What does this mean in practice? Previously, call centre operators and employees of the Russian Popular Front worked day and night to manually sieve through incoming questions concerning the topics that most people find important. Today, though, the massive amount of questions, which used to be processed over the course of a year with the involvement of a large number of specialists, will be handled in a completely different way.
Prior to the beginning of the programme, we will now see an almost complete, objective, and comprehensive picture of the issues that people of different ages, generations, professions, and residents of particular population centres and regions, the entire country, in fact, find important. Based on the results, we will immediately set tasks for specific agencies, governors, and ministries. The most pressing issues are already being raised, and the agencies have already started working on them and responding to them. This is a vivid example of AI use in public administration.
Such a feedback tool in our interaction with the people is unrivalled in the full sense of the word. I am aware that Sber has plans to refine this product based on its performance during the Direct Line. It will be extremely useful in everyday work of the authorities of all levels.
Overall, the outcomes of such a major experiment will significantly impact the efficiency of public administration. Primarily, the newly gained experience should be used in creating integrated digital platforms. The widespread implementation of such platforms will go beyond public administration, and be also used in healthcare, the manufacturing industry, transport, tourism, and every other sphere, and be completed in or before 2030.
Platform solutions like this should become the foundation for digitalising management systems in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In the upcoming years, many regional services should be provided using generative artificial intelligence. I would like to ask the Government to help our colleagues at all levels in fulfilling these tasks, both in municipalities and in the regions.
The implementation of these approaches will allow the entire country to transfer to data-based management, automate bureaucratic procedures, and provide a completely different level of control and decision-making, in fact, making a fundamental technological transition in the entire management system.
This difficult but very important work must be guided by our leaders, those who are not afraid of the new and introduce cutting-edge solutions. I would like to use this opportunity to name the regions that won the National Prize for artificial intelligence. We are holding this competition to encourage work at the regional level. This year’s winners are Moscow, and the Moscow, Lipetsk, Tula, and Tyumen Regions. I congratulate my colleagues and wish them further success.
Friends,
Russia’s experience in the practical implementation of artificial intelligence is needed in various countries. Today, nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, as well as our partners from the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union, the SCO, BRICS, and other associations are forming promising economic sectors and introducing innovations. Russia unquestionably shares and supports their commitment to developing, and also supports domestic companies in creating AI-based products and services both for themselves and for the whole world.
We will provide the countries of the Global South and East with consultative and technical assistance in the domain of artificial intelligence. Of course, we hope that we will also borrow our partners’ achievements and implement joint projects based on equal access to knowledge, technology, and scientific achievements. This priority is enshrined in the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence.
We are ready to help create and apply generative models not only in Russian, but also in other languages. As I have said, these systems’ algorithms must be trusted, that is, clear, open, and unbiased. They must also be developed considering cultural and national peculiarities of each civilisation with its history, identity and traditions, which we, in Russia, deeply respect.
I am confident that an international alliance of AI National associations and development institutions of the BRICS countries and other interested states will give a boost to this cooperation. This Alliance will be launched at the AI Journey conference today. I hope that new foreign participants, including my colleagues, leaders of state, will attend this event.
Friends, colleagues,
I with you new achievements, scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Thank you for your attention. All the best. Thank you.
CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank PJSC German Gref:
Friends,
I want to welcome you all here at our ninth conference. This is the ninth consecutive year that we have met at this event, which is turning into one of the largest internationally.
And I want to begin it with thanking you, Mr President, for your years-long support for the development of technologies and specifically artificial intelligence in the country. Of course, it drives immensely all participants in the Artificial Intelligence Alliance, who are engaged in the development of this matter in our country.
I want to thank the Government, the Presidential Executive Office, the regions, the Academy of Sciences and universities, our partners, for their joint work. Today, the country has already established a network of universities that serve as centres for the development of artificial intelligence. Today, all the successes that have been shown to the President at the stands are results of joint work.
Today, Mr President, you have already mentioned in your address the artificial intelligence, which for the first time is processing people’s requests to you at the Direct Line. And we thought that the topics that the citizens of our country have identified as the most pressing for themselves are most likely to be pressing not only for the citizens of our country, but also for the citizens of any other country. They are such topics as urban development, roads, car parks, urban environment and infrastructure.
The second subject is public administration: efficiency of public administration, effective spending of public funds, slow execution of judicial decisions.
The third subject is education: outdated educational methods, stressed-out children due to a large number of exams, heavy workloads on teachers.
The fourth subject is social services and protection: lack of information on current benefits and problems with obtaining these benefits.
And the fifth subject is medicine: the availability of medical services and their quality.
We asked Russian and international experts who came to the conference to share their experience. They will tell us how artificial intelligence is already helping people to solve the most pressing problems that have been identified in citizens' appeals. And the first such area is the application of artificial intelligence for the so-called smart city technologies.
Let us turn to international experience. The United Arab Emirates has successfully created and is one of the global leaders in creating smart cities. Today, they have built technological cities with a very developed, including digital, infrastructure in places, where there was a desert 50 years ago.
I would like to give the floor to Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bin Bishr. She is an internationally recognised expert on global digital transformation and an expert on smart city initiatives. I would like to ask you, Dr Aisha, to tell us what is being done in the United Arab Emirates in this regard.
Aisha Bin Bishr: (retranslated from English)
Mr President, Mr Gref, ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to address you today about the transformation journey that artificial intelligence took in smart cities, a journey that I, Aisha Bin Bishr, had the privilege to lead as a founder of Smart Dubai,
But first, let me ask you a question: how many of you today use AI in their daily activities? Good.
How many people are still doubting the capabilities AI brings to the table? Okay, all of you are believers. I will give you a small example. A few weeks ago, I attended a similar conference, where the organisers surprised me one hour before the presentation that they want slides to present them on the screen. I panicked, because my team are far away in Dubai, but then I remember AI, so I open an AI application. I give it to my speech and to produce eight slides summarising my speech with some simple yet professional images. In three minutes, I got my slides. This is how AI can augment our capabilities, but only if we know how to use it. Similarly in smart cities: AI can benefit leadership, public sector, citizens in developing more beneficial experiences in their lives.
So, allow me to explore with you some examples of how we can harness, these three stakeholders can harness the AI benefits from our experience in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE recognised that leadership is a cornerstone to any technological progress. In 2017, the announcement of the first world minister of AI was a very bold and visionary move, but it signals to the world that the UAE is serious and at the forefront of developing AI technologies.
This decision mandated all the government entities to work together, but also citizens started asking why the government assigned a new ministry to AI. We should learn more about AI. And this also accelerated investment in AI-driven initiatives.
You, as public sector managers, know that leadership alone cannot drive transformation. The public sector should evolve and be mature. In Dubai, every government entity was mandated to appoint an AI officer. These officers were the change agents who would spread awareness about AI and make sure that there are use cases in this government.
This policy re-engineered the processes and embedded AI capabilities at the heart of governance. And I’ll give you some examples.
Dubai police implemented AI predictive policing system reducing crime rate by 25 percent in specific areas by analysing historical data of different crimes in different areas of the city, demonstrating how AI can make cities safer. The Dubai roads and transport authority adapted AI to optimise traffic flow. AI-powered algorithms reduce traffic congestions by 15 percent during peak hours. For instance, intersections dynamically adjust the traffic lights based on real time data. This saves commuters an average of almost 20 minutes per trip.
And in 2017, I led the formation of the Cognitive AI Lab in partnership with IBM. This initiative developed the Dubai AI roadmap helping government entities identify more than 52 use cases where AI could help make difference, from civil services to traffic, to healthcare.
The third stakeholder, technology, succeeds only when it is embraced by people. Recognising this, United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed government entities to explore use cases for generative AI such as ChatGPT. This is the more friendly way of AI, that people can understand. Even nowadays my mom, whenever she wants anything, she will call me: “Please ask your ChatGPT for anything.”
So, I will give you some examples of how people start feeling the benefit of AI. The Ministry of Education leveraged AI to personalise learning experience analysing student performance data to provide tailored recommendation, improving outcomes by 15 percent in just one academic year. Dubai introduces AI-driven autonomous vehicles and smart parking systems. The smart parking application uses AI to guide drivers to available spaces in real time. This reduces search time by 30 percent and reduce fuel consumption.
Dubai has authority implemented AI in radiology achieving a 95 percent accuracy rate in mammogram analysis, reducing diagnostic time by 30 percent, and saving countless lives. And I personally benefited from this solution when they detected an early benign breast tumour.
But while AI has immense potential, it is crucial to ensure that it aligns with societal values and ethical standards. So, in 2019, we started a team to develop an AI ethics self-assessment tool kit. This voluntary framework helps businesses as well as governments to build fair, explainable, accountable, but also trusted AI systems by addressing attention between innovation and potential risks. These tool kits empower stakeholders to adapt ethical approaches confidentially.
The AI journey in smart cities driven by visionary leadership and empowered public sector and engaged citizens has transformed the United Arab Emirates into a global hub for innovation. Whether it is reducing traffic congestion, improving healthcare, or enhancing safety, AI has delivered tangible life-changing results.
During my visit to Moscow, I was deeply impressed by the digital twin initiative and the seamless experience it creates for residents and visitors alike. That city feels safe, welcoming, clean, and exceptionally well organised. This is a testament to how leveraging data and AI can elevate the urban experiences.
As we continue to advance AI, let us ensure that AI remains a tool to empower humanity, creating smarter, more efficient, and deeply humancentric cities.
And, if I may, Mr President, I would like to propose two initiatives to further amplify Moscow’s global leadership in smart city innovation.
First, the ‘lighthouse’ initiative. It is a global showcase of Moscow technology advancement by appointing ambassadors from various countries, like us here. Moscow could attract not only visitors, but investors and top global talents leveraging the social media tools and participating in international events. We can go and talk about how advanced Moscow is and position Moscow as a hub for AI transformation.
The second initiative is the Russian AI Opportunities report and an annual publication issued by this conference to highlight the vast opportunities Russia offers in AI and digital transformation. This report could become a key resource for investors, researchers, and government solidifying Russia’s position as a leader in AI innovation.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: I would like to begin by thanking you for being here and participating in today’s event hosted by Sber.
I would also like to note – I know this from my personal contacts with the President of the United Arab Emirates – Mr Al Nahyan places great emphasis on this and attributes high importance to this. His efforts to implement artificial intelligence in all spheres of life and to expand its use are yielding results.
We are aware of the Arab Emirates’ last year international rankings. We are also aware of your country’s incredible achievements as it moved up several positions and reached incredible heights.
With regard to “intelligent” cities, we are, indeed, implementing this technology in our country, and Moscow is a world leader in this regard. This was the case last year, and we are moving forward this year as well. We are also implementing corresponding national rankings. No need to say that Moscow ranks first, followed by St Petersburg, the Moscow Region, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, and Perm. All of this information is monitored, and certain assessments are given to achievements in this area.
You have named several areas, but, of course, this is not an exhaustive list, which includes practically all areas of our lives, such as housing and utilities, transport, healthcare, education, and everything else, you name it. The people in the audience, who are mostly specialists in these fields, know what I am talking about.
We are trying to do all of that. Fighting crime is among the most important areas for using AI. You just mentioned that citing the example of the UAE police, including in Dubai.
Moscow, too, has shown the same results which are, at first glance, simply remarkable, if not stunning. For example, the number of robberies has decreased by 10.5 times, and the number of burglaries in Moscow has fallen by almost 35 times precisely because of the use of artificial intelligence.
So, artificial intelligence plays an enormous role in all these areas. There is no doubt that these capabilities will grow, and we will try to leverage them all.
We are willing to promote and present your proposals, which I jotted down for myself, and the report on the AI capabilities, and our achievements. We will also try to implement the Lighthouse project that you mentioned, bearing in mind Moscow’s achievements and proposals in the field of artificial intelligence and potential investment in Moscow.
Moscow is moving forward. I believe it is one of the best metropolitan areas in the world, if we look at what is being done in Moscow. There are things to show, and by showing them, we have an opportunity to invite our partners and friends to work in Moscow which provides, undoubtedly, highly attractive investment opportunities across a variety of areas, including high-tech and manufacturing industries, research and education.
We will work together. I appreciate your proposals.
To be continued.